who all has hunted the grizz.what is it like.please show pics an tell us your storie.thanks
My son was charged by one while guiding a moose bowhunter two years ago. Story ends with a dead bear and a federal judge ruling justifiable self defense. I was faced up to one at close range last fall guiding an elk bowhunter. We were able to back out unscathed. What is it like? It totally changes your perspective on bowhunting in thick dark places and you don't want to bowhunt in those conditions anymore where you know bears hang out. In both of these cases the hunters did not want to hunt anymore in places where they couldn't see for over 50 yards in every direction. It's not worth the risk of dying to hunt in those places.
I used to think it would be great fun to hunt them. After being face to face with them, feeling extemely helpless, vulnerable, and inadequate in presence of such unpredictable brute power, and knowing how close you are to imminent death, I can't think of a more foolish thing to do.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/DSC00802.jpg)
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c324/nucduke/DSC00805.jpg)
X2 Missouri Sherpa. For me that is. With a trusted backup, be my guest.
I remember when I leaped from an airplane as a 19-year old thinking, "Now I'll never kill a grizzly."
It has always been my bowhunting dream to hunt grizzly, coastal or inland. I never have. Dad wanted me to be a Dentist. I chose to be a wildlife biologist. My final research paper was about the grizzly but that's as close as I've been to the subject -- literature review!
I certainly don't regret my career choice but maybe I could have afforded the adventure otherwise?
I remember seeing a home movie filmed by two brothers who hunted in Alaska with recurves in the late 60s/early70s. They were walking on a game trail through some really thick high stuff and filming and a grizzly reared up not more than 7 feet from the lead archer. I'll never forget that pink fletch going into the grizzly's eye and the camera being dropped as they ran out of there. They waited on a hill all night and went back in the morning and it was dead.
The same archers shot a bedded caribou on a hillside in a snowstorm from 60 yards out. Again the pink fletch arcing into the caribou and it just rolled over dead.
Great film.
I think it would be a life changing event. High adventure for sure.
I killed a beautiful Toklat with a rifle when I lived in AK. You cannot imagine how fast something that big can move!!!The front paw was the size of my head. Would I longbow hunt them? Yep, given the oportunity and the proper "insurance"
Excited about this one.....
One of the hunts on my bucket list! an adventure of a lifetime
Excited about this one.....
One of the hunts on my bucket list! an adventure of a lifetime
I don't hunt nothing I'm not going to eat that can eat me.
I would love to hunt them someday
The Grizzly bear is my dream hunt. :campfire:
I think it would definately be an adrenaline rush.
Grizzlies, Brown bear, or Kodiak bear all very big and very dangerous but they are on the top of my bucket list still!!!
I have had a number of close calls with grizzlies in the last number of years a couple closer than I care for with out a weapon. I have skinned 3 now as I have helped guide in the Brooks Range. I get very excited seeing these great creatures and give them great respect. Not sure I would want to be that close to one with just a stick and string in hand. They are very powerful creatues and the things I have seen them do is amazing. But I hope to see them again this year, but at a distance.
I hunted them on a regular basis in my backyard when I was a young kid in West Texas, wounded a few but never was able to find them:)
My dads friend hunted them up in alaska. He shot it at 20 yards as it was sleeping on a dead moose. It jumped up and ran him down and tore off his left butt cheek before the guide could get it dead thru rapid fire 12 gauge slugs! But I would love to try
Hunted them 2 years ago. Had one at 15 ft. Drew on it 4-5 times as it came in, but in the end didn't let one fly as it was on the small side. Had one the size of a truck come in to 40 yards the 2 days later and I instantly knew it was a shooter, but he hung up at 40 and then blew out like it's ass was on fire! I haven't got another draw since but keeping my fingers crossed.
I would love to get a chance to go hunt a grizzly bear. It is my Dream Hunt!
Ever since reading the book "Mark of the Grizzly" Ive dreamed of going.....love the thread, lets hear some more folks.
I love the stories please keep them coming .this is for sure king of all in north america.want to see some pics an more stories.thank you guys ed
At the recent Professional Bowhunter Society Biennial gathering in Portland,OR. Doug Borland, Don Thomas, & Ernie Holland hosted a panel discussion on Brown Bear Encounters. General consensus on hunting big bears with bows:
A minimum .375 rifle back up in the hands of someone who knows how to shoot under pressure (Ernie prefers a .458).
Never shoot a bear with a bow that knows you are there. You will be charged.
There is safety in numbers. The large majority of attacks are on one person. The attack numbers go down significantly when two hunters are together, and with three people attacks are rare.
It was a great discussion wish you were there, and made me think hard about hunting Alaska.
During the summer of 1976 while working on the Alaska Pipeline through the Brooks Range I was around a number of them. I was very leery of them, especially the ones that would come into the camps that had been fed by idiots to the point that they thought everybody on two legs was a Maitre'D. I only saw one, a sow with 2 cubs at a Remote Gate Valve site act the least bit agressively and we never left our vehicle and drove off. I saw people that summer do things so stupid with Grizzlies I just cringed but amazingly I don't think anyone was ever harmed by a Grizzly during the Pipeline's construction.
My most lasting impression though was of a bear that I watched through binoculars on a steep hillside dig out and run down either a Parka Squirrel or a Marmot, I was too far away to tell which. Watching it happen deeply confirmed the fact to me that if you provoke a bear into a determined charge you had better be able to stop him.
My son lived in Montana and moved back to marry his high school sweetheart. The next year his hunting buddy was hunting Elk and ran into a sow with two cubs. He tried to climb a tree and she ripped him out of the tree and chewed up his calf muscle on his leg and bit off a couple of toes. He told me the bear was over him just waiting for him to move. The cubs started to wander and she left. He got out of there with the help of a hiker he ran into. He told me he would of never of made it without help. They didn't do anything to the Sow because of the situation and she didn't show any sign of aggression after he was no threat.
Hunted Brown bears once a few years ago. Most adrenaline filled hunt I have ever been on. Had four within 25 yards but no shots were taken. Two were a sow and cub the other two didn't present a shot opportunity for a bow hunter.
I cannot attest to Grizzly hunting but I do guide Brown Bear hunts. (Maybe splitting hairs but I wanted to be clear)
First off I do not consider them "tough" in the hide bone context. So as far as setting up an "Elephant bow" no need.
When a bear is shot with a gun it is game on! The bear is on the fight bad. I have only seen two rifle shot bears that went down and both were lucky shots. I only say this cause sharp broadheads in the right place amaze me everytime. (as if there should be anything other than a sharp broadhead haha)
Bottom line, when everything is right an arrow shot bear is basically uneventful compared to a rifle shot one. They roar and spin and try to run off, exactly like Fred Bears famous footage. But the pants crap factor is high!
We have had guys in camp who put down an insane amount of money and are risking their lives and others but I would say lack the hunting experience and really shouldn't be there. Your attitude,ability and equipment should be at a very high level.
I have crawled through the brush 3 different times looking for bad bow shots, all I can say is it makes me wish they never dropped the string.
My advice if you are serious. Know your equitment inside and out, learn to shoot like its automatic, and shoot a good solid 3 blade head.
I have never guided a trad guy so I dont believe admin wants pics.
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
I remember seeing a home movie filmed by two brothers who hunted in Alaska with recurves in the late 60s/early70s. They were walking on a game trail through some really thick high stuff and filming and a grizzly reared up not more than 7 feet from the lead archer. I'll never forget that pink fletch going into the grizzly's eye and the camera being dropped as they ran out of there. They waited on a hill all night and went back in the morning and it was dead.
The same archers shot a bedded caribou on a hillside in a snowstorm from 60 yards out. Again the pink fletch arcing into the caribou and it just rolled over dead.
Great film.
Is this a video on the web? I would love to see it.
no thanks, big bears scare me, like big land great white sharks
:campfire: I love threads like this; they take me to places that I have never really got to go.
Thanks to all of those who have posted!
I also like these post. when you read what some of these hunters write you can really feel there expearances in a way. in some cases you can feel there fear an it just make you wonder.
You mean one of these?
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/321138_1982758170582_1292056621_31620919_105691428_n.jpg)
Dan,
We need to hear the story behind the picture......Please :readit: :bigsmyl:
Top of your bucket list or potentially the last item experienced on your bucket list?
oh my, I just typed that and lost the hole thing grr...
I'm not a great story teller so.........
I saw the bear and put the stalk on. Spent the better part of the morning closing the distance. We almost shot this bear a week before. My partner and I put the sneak on and managed to get 25 yards before we were busted. So close, quite the experience, sitting over your buddies shoulder getting ready to watch him shoot his first grizz. At the time we thought boar....It was a sow I found out in the end. She zigged, we zagged game up.
Week later I was headed back out for sheep and there she was again....stalk's on.
Snowing/sleeting. She was out feeding in a blueberry patch. Had the wind. Kind of unbelievable both times had good wind, this bear threw all caution to it, walking with the wind at her back. Last time we came in low, she beat us high...this time I came in high in the spruce. Honestly I didnt think a shot was going to happen. Thought I was too far in the trees when I realized I was standing in the perfect 'hide'. A wedge of head high spruce with openings in each one. In front of me had one lone almost cedar looking tree, short and wide. instead of continuing left, she came up. To my right was a row of trees angling down with a nice shooting area in front minus that one goofy tree at my 11 position 15 yards or so out. I figured she'd walk left....a lot goes through mind on a bear alone if you've never done it. Left had the nice opening, more of an edge I figured she'd follow.
I think it was 97 when I did my first stalk. 10 yards, a nice bear in a hole, , blonde arctic grizz, digging for gold. I walked right up to that bear, it came out....talk about buck fever, I shot way over that bears back.... Mind you I hadnt shot but one deer that was it with a bow. To say nerves where through the roof would be an understatment. I did have back up on this bear.
99, after shooting a ram, (reaked liked sheep), I managed to sneak in on a monster. As big of an interior bear as I've seen minus one....we've got eyes on a hoss we've been hunting since 2002 off and on he is the only interior bigger I've seen anywhere, and he's a monster. anyways, this bear at 18 yards stood up looked around and came back down to feed....I came unglued at the seams LOL. Dont go in a alder thicket after a bear when you reak like sheep...I found myself in his home, trails all over, branches broken....not good. I got smart and backed out, never did see that big guy again.
back to 2011, This bear came in and instead of going to the left came right at me. When I realized what was going to happen I knew I was done for. What I failed to notice about my wedge of trees is it had almost a solid row continuing down that hill on my right side I was standing in the openings of my wedge....she came in angling head on (now I know better to shoot here lol).....and did the same slow head tilt look she did a week before. This time she woofed very softly, almost like when you breath hard when you first stop running after a sprint.....that first big exhale (before you go going gasping for air lol). instead of running, she took that right leg and stepped downhill giving a perfect broadside shot. I have no idea why, she had to have seen me???.....someone was watching out from above in many more ways than one on this one. at some point I had gotten to half draw...and when she turned arrow was off.
Blood trail....huh????? I couldnt even find foot prints, muskeg, grrrr ;) . I did have a good visual out to 50 yards or so. wounded bear....snowing sleeting, no blood, alone, no backup. not fun LOL! Once you gain your composure (if thats a possible thing), you start your circles. I thought I saw her bite the arrow right before I lost site so I focused on that. I kept thinking she went straight and didnt do a complete circle...instead she made a 90 up hill....on one of my return loops I was getting close to where I figured the arrow was, looked up and saw her in a hole, not 20 yards from where I was using as my pivot point for the half circles. And not 5 steps away, layed a bit, arrow busted in 2 places. About 75 yards from shot to recovery. Arrow entered and smacked the off side shoulder.
After I skun the bear and headed back out....I walked the route one more time and realized she had taken the exact same path as she did the last time we stalked her. She came up in the exact spot we spooked her...the shot happened no more than 25 yards from where we were last time.
Hoping we find the big guy this fall, I have to wait the mandatory wait, but I may go looking for him with a buddy if he's up for it.
60lb liberty chief takedown....29.5" doug fir, 2 blade eskimos I've shot since day 1. I honestly dont remember the weight. She's not a big bear skull was just at 18 by fish and game measurements, but I wouldnt change a thing!
:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :readit:
Not on your life. I do not even want to be in the same country as a Grizz.
I love to hunt and be in the woods, but not with one of them, uh uh no way.
I was pretty interested up until the story about the guy losing his butt cheek, now not so much. :scared:
I have a tough time deciding if bighorn sheep or A grizz (brown Bear) hunt would be my dream hunt! Gotta go with the fear factor I think and choose the grizz! Someday if I can find an affordable hunt I will be going!
Sheep!!!!!
Dan thanks for the story, beautiful hide on that bear. Congrats !
danny rowan them pretty silver tips will take down the grizz,
AkDan you be tha' man! What a great read this thread is. I am interested for sure and someday I will go :campfire:
AkDan, Congrats BIG time! Tremondous picture of your Grizz and great story telling too by the way.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Love these type of threads.....please keep 'em coming.
Dan what a rush that would have been there is somtheing about hunting animals that can bite back or stomp up into the ground it takes it to the next level good luck with the big guy Thanks Shane
Gorgeous Grizz Dan!
Sure wish I was a little(maybe a whole lot) younger!!! :archer: :dunno:
thanks guys, she's definatly a stunning critter! I did fail to mention the shot distance. a whopping 5 steps!
Shane, you ever go after waterbuff? I've kicked this idea around twice now. I'm thinking it might be on the radar for 2013 depending on costs door to door. Gotta start thinking about it seriously and building up bow weight for it.
Another trip years ago..had a guy up from MI fishing with me for trout/salmon for a couple of days. My unit was on block leave and his unit came up to cover for us...he pulled a couple days off and got the experience of a lifetime. Sometime throughout the night a bear came into camp....a vary young habituated bear, went right for the cooler. everything else (food and trash) was in trees. This little brown nocked over the cooler filled with cloths (only dry spot we had other than in the tent, we had brought the cooler for salmon if we got into any the last day to bring home for dinner, works well as a dry bag in a pinch lol). Anyways, it ripped the end of his shaving kit bag open like a candy bar and bit a hole in my plastic spoon I borrowed him covered in cheese from mt house lasagna. The cooler was sitting next to the tent...when it nocked it over, it hit the tent right behind my head. The bear couldnt have been a couple steps from my head at most and you couldnt hear a thing! That bear ended up getting shot that night in another camp (we dont carry firearms) and some how I got put on point as tracker, not fun, 3 unknown dudes all carrying big bore rifles in some nasty thick alders. Thankfully as we bumped the bear, my boat ride out pulled in and I had to turn back. I never heard if they did get that bear. there's one awfully spooked yooper running around lol.
I have about 7-8 coastal brown hunts under my belt, most solo. I've shot one small one at 13 yards (solo) and been much closer several times. Griz act different in different locales, situation, etc.
Not actually hunted them but been real close while hunting other things, adds a whole new perspective to things...
In this pic from a MT hunt in "06" the 450#er is right below my stand which was only six feet off the ground, that put him maybe 4' away... :scared: The reason it's kind of dark is because he "kept" me in the tree till probably 45 min after dark. He had to have known I was up there but never paid any attention to me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/Griz_06.jpg)
The reason I know he was 450# is FWP trapped him a couple days later as a nuisance bear. They relocated him about 60 miles away, two months later he was back with his nice new collar...
Incredible animals and I'd have a real hard time turning down an opportunity to hunt them if it ever arose...
Doug that is a cool picture. I have never hunted them but have been around them some and have had them hunt me Does that count?
I have never hunted them but a few years ago I was with a group of guys that shot one. For a Texas boy, being next to a grizzly for the first time, was an awesome experince. It was a great privilege for me to feel the fur and to lift the paws, to look at this predator with complete amazement. I hope to one day actually hunt one.
Gilbert
Years back, I had the honor to hunt British Columbia coastal grizzlies with famed guide Clayton Mack.
If memory serves, at one time, Clayton had guided hunters who had 3 in the B&C top 10.
I shot a nice bear, but I did so with a rifle.
The hunting was walking up small tributaries and basically coming into very close contact with grizzlies while they were looking for salmon.
For example, my dad killed a giant B&C male, again with a rifle, but at literally 10 yards.
Personally, I wouldn't care to do so with a bow, in that style of hunt.
Clayton Mack was a Bella Coola Indian and obviously had great respect for bows. But even he wouldn't take bowhunters after a while.
He spent about 6 months in the hospital after a mauling and he said he'd killed too many bears at this feet, as the backup gun, to do anymore bowhunts.
Personally, having done it with a rifle, in that style of very close quarters hunting, I would not want to do so with a bow.
Many fishermen in Alaska have had contact with more "tame like" grizzlies and they are used to human contact and not much of a problem.
Where we were in Bella Coola BC, the bears weren't tolerant of humans.
In all honesty, we had a couple instances with smaller grizzlies doing a false charge where I was nervous with a .300 mag in my hands. Again, just me personally, I wouldn't care to do it with a traditional bow. I have a wife and 4 kids I'd like to see again, and hug with both my arms.
Clayton...
(http://www.nuxalk.net/images/mack-clayton.jpg)
Some intense stories. I don't know if I want to hunt them or not.
Tame grizzlies? lol,
The big problem with bears...they are all different, and like people, we are all different on different days. Catch me on a bad day and watch out.
You know what I mean. LOL On some popular rivers and some popular "lodges", lots of fishermen co-mingle with bears in sight. The bear are more used to seeing the fishermen in some of those spots.
Bob; i have read Clayton Mack's book, a biography that was written by someone from notes by Claytons hospital bed. Great Book! :thumbsup:
Doug; Nice inland Grizz in that Pic. I've been through Glacier national park several times, but have never been fortunate enough to see a Grizzly.
I need to get that book. My dad shot 2 different bears with Clayton and when Clayton scouted what he believed to be the new world record bear, he actually called my dad because he wanted my dad to be the one to shoot it, since the two of them got along so well.
But get this, this is how great Clayton was. My dad told him that he couldn't go because he'd just gone with Clayton the year before and couldn't afford it and, it's been so long ago, I was only like 2 years old, and my dad didn't think he could leave for two weeks again.
Well, Clayton said don't worry, the trip was free, on him, and all my dad had to do was pay the plane ticket. Clayton said "Bob, I want you to shoot this bear".
That's an offer you don't refuse! So my dad went out and they ended up passing 18 other grizzly, but never did see that giant bear again. Clayton said it was the biggest bear he'd ever seen with a massive head and he was sure it'd go #1.
My dad and Clayton got close. At several daylights, they found the tracks and salmon with blood flowing from the bear, but the bear was too spooky, even for Clayton.
That's just a great story about Clayton. He and my dad really hit it off and it was a pleasure to spend 10 days with him in that tiny trappers cabin. His nephew Obie Mack was also with us.
Clayton had so many stories, I wonder if that made the book? Do you recall?
Sergio,
There's a couple books on Clayton Mack.
Was it...
Grizzlies and White Guys-The Stories of Clayton Mack?
Bella Coola Man-More Stories of Clayton Mack?
I should go thru all our pictures. I bet I have as many pics of Clayton and the camp as anyone out there, from a total of 4 trips with my dad.
another good read is by pinnel and talifson, last of the great brown bear men.
Story of 2 master guides on kodiak. I dont think they have any bowhunters in the book. Regardless some of the stories will have you crawling out of your seat! I have another good read, a little harder to find, can't remember the name of it off hand. I'll try and remember to dig it up when I get home.
Here's a cool pic with Clayton and his hunters with the #2 B&C bear... (http://www.philipwdavis.com/d_03097.gif)
Bob; i've got the Book in my hand! It's "Grizzlies and White guys". I really enjoyed reading it and will immediately try to order the other one.
i've read quite a bit on the Bella Coola area, sure would like to arrow a Grizz, and the Bella Coola has big ones!
I'll let you know if there are any stories of your Dad.
Very cool. I'm going to order both. I wonder if any of my dads stories are in it?
If you come across the story of the hunter that got caught in a landslide when a boulder gave way on a goat stalk right by camp, that was my dad! LOL
Frankly, he's lucky to have walked away from it with only lots of scrapes and cuts. He sure beat up his Weatherby in the slide down. It was mostly loose shale, but there were some big boulders mixed in. Lucky!
Clayton nailed up my dads shredded up pants to the cabin wall and he showed them off to any other hunters who wanted to go chase after goats! LOL
While he had many places he hunted, I was at the old cabin at the very end of Owikeno Lake.
Dan ive got a few buff with the compound they are big and tuff not a real danger to hunt like cape buff just real big and hard to get a lot of peno on Thanks Shane
I know that Scott Koelzer of Montana has killed at least 3-4 grizzlies with his Silvertip bows.
ttt
Although lost the desire to bear hunt a few years ago due to a friend's pet bear cub, this was a cool thread and enjoyed it much.... Thanx to all whom shared...
hunted a few times in Montana and called a sow and cub in with a cow call ,lucky for me they went the other way when they got close enough to figure me out, they saw me at about 40 yards ,and that was close enough for me ,that same year i saw nime different grizzlies well i know at the very least five some could've been the same ones, huge animals i tell you it sure lets you know your mot the top of the food chain with a bow in your hand. i now know how the rabbit feels looking over his shoulder, and to quote fred bear it will cleanse the soul, gib
There are few things I won't chase. But I have no real desire to shoot a grizzly or big brown with a bow. Nor an african lion or leopard.
Now I truly want to hunt those animals but like a guy said above. I have a wife and 4 kids. Would like to hold my wife for the rest of my life and be able to pick up my grandkids one day.
I saw a huge boar in Denali a couple years ago. His head was literally garbage can size; he had little brown pig eyes that stared right through me and made the goose-bumps crawl on my back! I knew from the look in his eyes that I was a very inferior creature and literally just as important as a ground squirrel. Right then I decided that I would not ever try to take one with a bow.
Bow hunted Moose in the Tic- chic narrows area of Alaska .
Saw at least a dozen grizzlies within 60 yards., including walking up on a sow with 2 cubs! She was not happy . She reared up , growled and popped her teeth at us. Why she didnt come for us I,m not sure, but I will never forget the way she looked at me.
I would not do that again with out my 375 H&H in my hands.
Had serious grizzly hunt prep work and planning in the works many years back. Then experienced something I have neither both or after have had happen. I had three consective nights of three different extremely vivid dreams which ended poorly. Each time I woke up in a sweat right at the moment of my departure from this earth.
I cancelled my plans that week and have never looked back. Even if the dreams were just dreams, they revealed to me that my mental prep was far below parr.
Even the formidble leopard hunts elsewhere when he is aware that the big cats are in the vicinity.
:campfire: :coffee:
I will do it someday soon with my buddy Yote Robertson, who guides in AK. His dad Dick took one in Russia years back. However, if I find myself with but a few months to live, I'm going north to pick a fight with a griz armed with only my Randall Knife. I can think of no better way to exit this world than to become grizzly crap. It's my way of going "green."
Don, I can think of a million ways better than being ripped apart by a bear.
Good luck with that!!
LOL
Glenn
I guide in Afica since 1987 , wounded buy a leopard in 1988, then by a buffalo in 2003 : The first encounter with a grizzly bear was in north of BC and it is the most respectable wild animal i had never seen in the wild, i was hunting black bear ans this big bear came out at 15 yards not noticing me , i had the bow in hands , he was full broadside, not even looking but..... i had no tag for grissly but for sure i will remember that day all my life .
Dang alligatordond – Believed I was the only one that thought that way, only I'm taking a spear...8^)
Have never been to Alaska (yet), or flown in a bush plane, but have instructed my kids to scatter my ashes out of a bush plane somewhere over Alaska.
May not make it there in life, but someday in spirit...8^)
Glen St. Charles had an interesting point in his book, "Bows on the Little Delta". He suggested that hunting dangerous game (like Griz) with back-up rifles was probably not right. He didn't come right and say he thought it wasn't Fair Chase but he definitely leaned that way. I had never thought of his point but it made sense to me and has me wondering.
I would imagine it is a whole different ball game when you are stalking a Grizzly or Kodiak with a guide tote'n a 375 at your back. I'd bet (maybe me too) a lot of folks would forego that experience if no rifle has your 6.
I think a black-maned lion would be the most dangerous thing to be in bow-range of. I'm sure I can't even imagine the feeling.
Of course it is a legal requirement in some areas and on some hunts.